UPDATE: One person dies in helicopter crash northwest of the Campbell River Airport

One woman died in yesterday’s helicopter crash approximately three kilometres west of the Campbell River airport, Campbell River RCMP have confirmed.

Campbell River RCMP responded to the call of a crashed helicopter at 5 p.m., Oct. 1 in a heavily forested area. First responders were able to walk in to the scene and extricate one male occupant from the wreckage, Campbell River RCMP Staff Sgt. Troy Beauregard said.

A female occupant of the helicopter was located deceased at the scene. The injured male was transported to hospital in Victoria for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

Emergency crews had difficulty accessing the site by vehicle and ended up having to approach by foot and air. A report indicates a RCMP helicopter had to abandon accessing the crash site due to low fuel.

#CampbellRiver crews responding to a helicopter crash NE of the Airport. Unable to access by ground. Asking for 442 rescue heli from Comox

Ground emergency service personnel from Campbell River were first on the scene and using flashlights, firefighters assisted the 442 Squadron helicopter crew locate the scene of the crash which was obscured by dark, thick forest and tall trees, 19 Wing Comox Public Affairs reported to Black Press.

Two SAR Techs were inserted near the crash site to assist emergency services personnel already at the scene.

This was a multi-agency response involving Campbell River RCMP, BC Ambulance, Campbell River Fire Rescue, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria and the Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue team from 442 Squadron based in Comox.

Campbell River RCMP said they are assisting the BC Coroner’s Service and the Transportation Safety Board with the investigation. The helicopter involved was a Robinson 44 (R44).

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

A helicopter from 442 Squadron in Comox circles nearby the crash site north of the Campbell River Airport. Photo by Jocelyn Doll